Three men have today been arrested on suspicion of murdering missing chef Claudia Lawrence

Three men arrested on suspicion of the murder of missing chef Claudia Lawrence have been released on bail.

The three men, who are in their 50s are all from the York area. The trio were questioned over night by police investigating the chef's disappearance.

Ms Lawrence was 35 when she vanished on March 18, 2009.

Her father, Peter, reported her missing after she failed to turn up to work in the canteen of the University of York for her 6am shift.

Detectives previously questioned a man in his 50s from York in March in connection with Ms Lawrence's murder.

He remains on police bail.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: 'Although they have been released from custody, proceedings in this case - as they relate to them - remain active.'

Officers confirmed that Ms Lawrence's parents have been kept informed of current developments.

Detectives are currently looking for evidence which could lead to the discovery of Ms Lawrence's body.

Specialist teams of forensic officers have searched three locations in the York area looking for evidence.

Detectives began reviewing the case in 2013 and have since carried out a number of searches, including a detailed re-examination of Miss Lawrence's home, in the Heworth area of York, and a fingertip search of an alleyway that leads to the rear of the house.

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They have also issued previously unseen CCTV footage of two people walking near the house.

The new arrests, and the arrest in March, are understood to be linked to these lines of inquiry.

Detective Superintendent Dai Malyn, head of North Yorkshire Police's Major Crime Unit and the senior investigating officer in the Claudia Lawrence inquiry, said: 'I urge everyone to again show restraint and patience while we carry out these very important enquiries. Your co-operation and support is greatly appreciated by the investigation team.'

Miss Lawrence (right) was reported missing by her father Peter (left) on March 18, 2009

Specialist forensic officers searched the houses of the three suspects and their gardens

Officers completed their searches earlier this afternoon before the three men were released on police bail

There has been a £10,000 reward for information which will lead to the whereabouts of Miss Lawrence

Neighbours said the police arrived at 7am on Wednesday before cordoning off each of the houses

People living around the homes that are being searched said officers arrived just before 7am yesterday.

At the address nearest to Miss Lawrence home, uniformed police wearing face masks could be seen carrying out brown evidence bags.

Martin Dales, friend of Claudia's father, said the new arrests were a positive movement in the investigation but that progress was a series of ups and downs for the family.

Speaking outside the chef's house, he said: 'Peter finds it very hard, going up and down.

'You feel like you might be getting somewhere and then you get let down.

'Three arrests is certainly a big movement for the police though.

'That's four people in the space of one month.

Claudia Lawrence, pictured aged 27 in 2001, as a bridesmaid at her aunt's wedding in North Yorkshire

Officers stood guard while the searches continued and potential evidence was recovered from the houses

'The public has been tremendous in keeping information coming which has helped the police.'

Mr Dales added: 'Someone is withholding the truth and that is despicable.

'Imagine if it was your daughter and you were sitting around waiting for answers and somebody, for their own skin, was trying to be obstructive.

'I hope the full force of the law comes down on them.'

A resident living near one of the houses said police arrived at around 7am yesterday.

Tommy Ward, 81, said: 'It started off with one police car then a few more came.

'It was just around about 7am when everything started up.

'I was outside my house watching the world go by at the time.

'I haven't seen anyone arrested but a few weeks ago some sniffer dogs were there in the same house. We've had dogs a few times now. I don't know the person who lives there.'

Peter Lawrence with a photograph of his daughter in the chapel at Bishopthorpe Palace, York

Mr Lawrence has previously spoken of his daily pain and asked for information on his daughter's killer

TIMELINE: KEY DATES IN THE SIX-YEAR CLAUDIA LAWRENCE INVESTIGATION

Miss Lawrence was last seen on March 18, 2009

2009

March 18

5.57am - Miss Lawrence is captured on CCTV arriving for work at the University of York's Goodricke College

2.31pm - The chef leaves work to walk the three miles to her home on Heworth Road. A female colleague sees her as she drives past in her car and gives her a lift, dropping her off outside her house

3.05pm - The last sighting of Miss Lawrence as she walks back to her house.

8.10pm - Miss Lawrence has a telephone conversation with her father, Peter, and then another with her mother, Joan

8.23pm - She sends a text message to a friend

9.12pm - Miss Lawrence receives a text on her mobile phone but it is not known if she read the message

March 19

6am - Miss Lawrence fails to arrive for her shift at work

April 24

Detectives say they are treating Miss Lawrence's disappearance as a suspected murder

2010

March 18

Police reveal Ms Lawrence spent the night with a mystery boyfriend just two days before she went missing. It was 'critical' they spoke to the man, a detective adds

May 25

Police confirm they have spent two days searching a house about ten miles from Claudia's home as a result of a 'recent development'

July 29

Police confirm they are scaling back the number of officers dedicated to the inquiry

2011

March 18

On the second anniversary of Miss Lawrence's disappearance, Detective Superintendent Ray Galloway reveals that he could have 'potentially' spoken to her killer

2012

March 16

Peter Lawrence speaks of his daily pain over his daughter's disappearance and makes a plea for anyone who may still harbour a sense of 'misguided loyalty' to come forward and help with the police investigation

2013

October 29

Police announce that a new forensic search of Miss Lawrence's home is to begin as they launch a fresh review of the case

2014

March 17

Mr Lawrence, speaking ahead of the fifth anniversary of his daughter's disappearance, says not knowing what happened to his daughter five years after she disappeared is like a 'cancer' eating away at him

March 19

Police say a new forensic examination of Claudia's house has uncovered the fingerprints of people who still have not come forward five years after she disappeared. They say they are seeking to trace two men and two vehicles seen near her home

May 13

A 59-year-old man is arrested on suspicion of murder by detectives investigating the disappearance, and later released without charge

July 23

Pub landlord Paul Harris, then 46, is arrested on suspicion on perverting the course of justice

2015

March 23

A 59-year-old father-of-two from the York area is arrested on suspicion of murdering Miss Lawrence and released on bail the next day

April 14

Mr Harris - now aged 47 - is released from bail after providing information to detectives which has progressed the investigation, police say

April 22

Three men in their 50s arrested on suspicion of murder. Police launch fresh search for evidence.